Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-02

II L " L u IL ;
mother that from this time ON he would
make them the study and business Of his
life. Ills mother replied that it was UNI
fortunate that he had not been born in
Europe. n there was war there nearly all
the time and as there WAS no prospect OF
his utilizing his talents in this country.
Ellsworth replied that he thought she was
mistaken, and that the political struggle
which w;IS then going on could result i'll
nothing hut war. At this time he waa
organizing the cadets, and he was first
made sergeant Of Il Chicago company, hut
his ideas OF drill were 80 rigid that he was
forced out of the organization. lie then
went tO Elgin, Ills, organized n company
there, and challenged his former cOmpan-
iOuS i'm Chicago to a competitive drill. Ills
challenge was accepted, aud the Chicago
company was Inundated by the superiOri-
ty of its competitors. Shortly after this
he WAS elected captain of the Chicago Ca
diets, and he accepted the position only ON
the seyerest conditions. lie said he wanted
not only soldiers, but gentlemen, and iu-
sisted that they should he strictly moral,
obedient, and should allow themselves Ia
he ruled with the iron hand Of military
discipline. II they agreed to these terms
ne said he would make them the best com,
pany in the United States. II not he
wonld have nothing to do with them. He
was unanimously chosen, and thus began
the noted company of IOuaves.
"He drew up code of regulations fOI
them, and in this code expulsion was the
penalty of entering any drinking saloon
while wearing the uniform of the corps,
attending public masked balls in uniform,
and the use of language unbecGming Z
gentleman while in the reading or drill
room. lie still kept up his law studies,
copied papers to keep soul and body
together, and lived on crackers and water.
SIN military drill he WAS iudelatigtble,
and he had regular schedule of time,
which he lived up to religiOusly. lie rose
ut and studied till 10, copied from I'D IA
1, attended TO business from | until 1,
studied from ! to :, took exercise from Ia
:, and studied from : to 10. On alternate
DAYS he had drill, and ut such times he
devoted from p. m. To | y. III. to this.
"His company soon became noted.
at gave an exhibition on the Fourth or
July, 1859, at Chicago, and it created 4
perfect furOre. It's fame spread rapidly,
and Ellsworth was in demand al over the
country 10 teach the Zouave drill to
various corps. He took his troops ON q
tour throughout the North, and ut It's
close ne met Abraham Lincoln. The two
became friends at once Lincoln inquired
about his private life, and before they
separated extended him an invitation ia
20 To Springfield and complete his studies
i'm his office.
AT this time Lincoln WAS \ Prcsiden.
tial candidate. Ellsworth accepted, and
during the campaign which followed he
took the stump for Lincoln. lie WAS one
of the suite which escorted Lincoln to the
Capital, and did much toward his safety
during that trip. President Lincoln was
much interested in scheme for the
organization Of the State militia
of the United States, which Els.
worth had planned and which President
Lincoln intended should he carried out
with Ellsworth ut its head. Ellsworth was
confident that war was inevitable, and he
told the President 80. Lincoln smiled mp,
on him As father would upon an enthusi,
astic boy, and he offered him a lieutenant
CIV in the regular dragons, where he might
at least drill. This Ellsworth declined
with the belief that he would he of more
service elsewhere. lie waited about the
White House and watched for war. lie
had not long To wait. Sumter was fired
upon. 1t capitulatel, and President Lin
coin called for -, 900 men. Ellsworth de
cided to raise regiment out of the New
York fire companies. lie went to New
York on Thursday, and by Monday 2,3OC
men had volunteered TO join his regiment
He had thus enough for two regiments
He brought his soldiers to Washington.
and they were the first regiment Of volun,
teers to enter the capital"
when did you first meet him."
al knew him when l was n boy. He
lived at Mechanicsville, n. v, and lived
at Troy, which is not far distant ! he
came enthusiastic over the drill, and when
the call for troops was made was not vet
81 years Of age. ran away from home
and joined the regiment which Col. Ellis
worth organized in New York. We found
Washington filed with soldiers when we
arrived, and we were quartered at first in
the Capitol. We slept upon benches, and
Ellsworth had q number of baking ovens
made in the vaults for the cooking of the
food for the soldiers. 1t was found impOs-
sible, however, to enforce discipline in
Washington, and Ellsworth moved us out
near the insane asylum. From thence we
marched to GiessbOrO Point, and we were
here stationed at the time we were ordered
to Alexandria"
''What kind of a looking man was Els
wOrth?"